Nishant Saxena
The Uttar Pradesh government is launching a new program to improve language proficiency among secondary school students. The initiative includes the setting up of language labs in government-run secondary schools across all 18 divisional headquarters of the state over the next two years. The selected schools will also receive facilities for teaching foreign languages, with part-time teachers appointed to teach these languages.
The program aims to emphasise the teaching and learning of Hindi, Sanskrit, modern and ancient Indian languages, and literature on classical languages will be made available in the library of a government school in every divisional headquarters. Additionally, online modules will be prepared for the study of these languages, and arrangements will be made to teach modern Indian languages of other states in one government secondary school in each of the 75 districts of the state.
In addition to improving language proficiency, the program will educate students about the importance of cultural conservation and heritage. Art rooms will be set up in 600 secondary schools across the state, providing students with an opportunity to learn about artefacts and images through arts and crafts. Officials hope that engaging in creative activities will help students express themselves and develop competence in positive, tangible and meaningful ways.
The divisional headquarters where the language labs will be set up include Varanasi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Agra, Meerut and Prayagraj, among others. This initiative is a significant step by the Uttar Pradesh government to improve language proficiency and conserve cultural heritage. It is expected to benefit students immensely, providing them with the necessary tools to develop language proficiency and an appreciation for culture and heritage.
The initiative is spearheaded by the secretaries of Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad and Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Shiksha Parishad, and was outlined in a recent missive sent to additional education directors by Director, Secondary Education, Mahendra Dev.
Overall, the new program will provide an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about their culture and heritage while developing their language proficiency. With a focus on both traditional and modern Indian languages, this program is a positive step towards preserving the cultural richness of the state and providing students with the necessary tools to succeed.
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